Bio: Hanson, Louis John (1914)

Contact: Crystal Wendt.

----Surnames: Hanson, Cassity, Johnson, Olson, Bradshaw

----Source: History of Eau Claire County Wisconsin (1914) pages 725-726

Louis John Hanson, the well known hardware dealer of Eau Claire, was born in Cambridge, Dane county, this state, November 5, 1860, of Norwegian parents. His father, who was born in Norway, came to the United States when twenty-five years of age and first located at Edgerton, where he followed the business of merchant tailor, going thence to Cambridge, Augusta, Black River Falls, Merrillan Junction and to Menomonie, following his trade in each of these places, living retired at Menomonie for two years prior to his death. He married in Norway and they were the parents of three children: Jacob, a cigarmaker at Menomonie; Martin, who is postmaster at Menomonie, and Louis J.

Educated in the public schools, Mr. Hanson went to work when fourteen years of age as chore boy in a hotel at Neilsville, after which he learned the tailor's trade of his father, remaining with him three years. This was not his chosen vocation, however, and he went to work in the general store of Knapp, Stout & Company, as clerk, in Menomonie, remaining there two years, when he entered the employ of H. T. Cassity, as clerk, where he spent seven years. He then clerked for A. H. Johnson, of Menomonie, for sixteen years, and in 1902 came to Eau Claire and started in the hardware business, in which he is progressive and successful. He owns a small farm in the limits of Eau Claire, is a member of the Lutheran Church, the Odd Fellows, Masons, the Elks and Norsmen.

On February 27, 1882, Mr. Hanson married Mary E. Olson, daughter of Andrew Olson, of Wausau, Wis., and they are the parents of four children, viz.: Louis J., Jr., a high school graduate, in the store with his father, married Iva Bradshaw; Ruth, Carlile and Agnes.

The hardware store of L. J. Hanson was started in 1902 by Mr. Hanson at his present location — 442 Water street. He owns the building, 22x122 feet, and carries a general line of hardware, stoves, ranges, oils, varnish, tools and cutlery.